The Nanshan Open Rookie Fest came to a close on January 17 at Mellow Parks, China, delivering a full day of high-energy riding and clear signals about where the future of freestyle snowboarding is heading. Set in one of Asia’s most progressive snowpark environments, the event brought together Rookies and Groms across the Asian snowboard scene, all hungry to make their mark.
From the first drops, the vibe was all about progression. Riders focused on clean execution, confidence on features, and consistency. Exactly what you want to see at this stage of development. The park setup allowed athletes to push without overreaching, and the results reflected that balance between ambition and control.
The Rookie Boys podium was completely dominated by Chinese riders. Junxin Li (CHN) took the win with a solid and composed performance, showing maturity well beyond his years. Close behind, Minzai Chen (CHN) secured second place with a run built on precision and flow, while Shining Wang (CHN) rounded out the podium in third, confirming the depth of talent coming up through the Chinese snowboard scene.
Rookies Boys Podium
The Rookie Girls category saw a standout performance from Younghyun Heo (KOR). With confidence and style, she claimed the top spot, underlining Korea’s growing presence in youth freestyle snowboarding and setting a strong benchmark for the category.
Rookie Girls Podium
Things got even more exciting in the Grom Boys podium. Sora Horigome (JPN) from Japan took first place, delivering a run packed with control and natural style. China followed closely, with Gao Mingye (CHN) finishing second and Li Sunyuan (CHN) taking third. The level here was high across the board, proof that the next wave is already charging hard.
Groms Boys Podium
In Grom Women, Japan once again climbed to the top with Juri Naayama (JPN) taking the win. China filled the remaining podium spots, with Songyu Chen (CHN) in second and Jiaruo Song (CHN) in third, showcasing fearless riding and huge potential for the years ahead.
Groms Girls Podium
The Nanshan Open Rookie Fest once again confirmed Asia as a key hub for snowboard progression. Events like this are not just competitions, but real development platforms where young riders gain experience, confidence, and a first taste of international-level events. From Rookies to Groms, the level shown at Mellow Parks highlights a generation that is growing fast, supported by solid structures, dedicated coaches, and parks designed to push progression safely.
New names stepped into the spotlight, different riding styles emerged, and the overall motivation was clear: this scene is moving forward with purpose. The road from local events to the international stage starts here, run after run, trick after trick. And judging by what went down in Nanshan, the future of Asian snowboarding isn’t just promising, it’s already taking shape, and it’s coming in strong.
